School workers vote allowing strike, other action for issues

Updated 5:32 pm, Monday, February 12, 2018

FLATWOODS, W.Va. (AP) — Public school employees across West Virginia could go on strike following a vote over pay concerns, health insurance benefit cuts and other issues.

News outlets report employees voted to authorize union leaders to decide what action to take in response to the issues. The vote allows local branch leaders of the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association to choose action that includes what would be the first statewide teachers strike in almost 30 years.

More than 100 county union presidents and others met Sunday. West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee says he and AFT-West Virginia President Christine Campbell would ultimately decide about when and how to take action. They said the county-by-county votes happened over the last two weeks and that they want to solve issues legislatively.